Watches

From sundials carved out of stone to the elegant invention of the wristwatch, human beings have always had an interest in keeping an eye on the time.Today, the fast pace of modern life makes it essential for people from around the globe to not lose track of the time.

While trends come and go, one timeless accessory is a wristwatch. With an enormous range of options for both children and adults, there are many options on offer: from high-end designer brands that double up as enviable wrist decoration, to durable waterproof options for the great outdoors, to simple and elegant styles perfect for the everyday wear.

With our fantastic range of watches, you can keep a discreet eye on the time, without having to sneak a look at your smartphone. Whether you’re looking for yourself or browsing gifts for loved ones, a watch is always a great option for convenience as well as style.

How do watches work?

Time-keeping devices are ingenious in design, not to mention elegant. The first wearable watches included the mechanical watch, famed for its ‘ticking’ sound. Mechanical watches utilise a series of compartments that operate in harmony with one another. The first is the mainspring, which measures the passage of time and needs to be wound every so often. A weighted compartment called a balance wheel moves back and forth, and with each turn of the balance wheel an escapement allows the wheel to move forward, allowing the hands of the watch to move ‘clockwise’ at a consistent pace. Due to their delicate nature, these kinds of watches require periodic specialist cleaning. In the 1920’s, the use of electricity provided an entryway into a new era of watchmaking. An electronic oscillator is controlled by a quartz crystal, eliminating the necessity for the winding process of the mechanical watch. This highly sophisticated technology became commonplace by the 1980’s, as the materials are inexpensive and able to be mass-produced. This style of watch now dominates the watch market, as it is able to produce more precise timekeeping and requires less maintenance than its predecessor.

How to choose a watch

When choosing the watch that’s right for you, there are a few factors to consider.

-One thing is certain; there’s no need to compromise on style. Watches come in all shapes and sizes, so consider the thickness of the straps, and what kind of material you prefer- metal, leather, plastic and more.

-From neutral and discrete to highly stylised, there are a range of designs on offer. Many watches come complete with decorations from diamanté to real precious stones; these double up perfectly as jewelry.

-If you’re looking for kids’ watches, there are many fun and colourful designs available in our store.

-Choose between analogue, where you see the clock face and time determined by minute and second hands; or digital, where the numbers themselves appear in often a 24 or 12-hour format.

-For the tech savvy, there are watches that sync up with your smart phone.

If you’re outdoorsy, consider a more hardy watch that doubles up as waterproof.

Some watches are splash proof- fine for rain, but not ideal for sustained submersion in water.

-There are plenty of additional features available; some watches come with the option to set alarms, to operate as stopwatches, to include the date, even to indicate the moon’s cycles!

Are you looking for watches or other watch products? Visit our Watches store.